“”Who will raise our children if we are dead or seriously wounded?” … Under the new order, 200 to 300 diplomats have been identified as “prime candidates” to fill 48 vacancies that will open next year at the Baghdad embassy and in the provinces. Those notified that they have been selected for a one-year posting will have 10 days to accept or reject the position. If not enough say yes, some will be ordered to go.”

A very interesting situation is developing from within the US war machine. I wonder if we will soon read of “conscientious objections” coming from the diplomatic core.

The situation in Somalia is quite unstable, and has been since the U.S. backed Ethiopian invasion last December.

“The UN’s refugee agency (UNHCR) says about 36,000 have fled Mogadishu since Saturday … UNHCR estimates that 400,000 Somalis had fled Mogadishu by May this year”

Also see: Somali prime minister steps down | BBC from this past week.

“[I]t is clear violence against women is widespread, common in all communities, regardless of class, ethnic or generational differences.”

A most vicious occupation.

Barrick Gold Corp, a Canadian gold mining company, said that production at its Bulyanhulu gold mine in Tanzania has been halted due to what it termed an “illegal” strike, and that it has fired about half of the mine’s work force.

This mine is also connected with so much death and suffering – http://www.dominionpaper.ca/features/2006/07/05/there_is_d.html

“The Israeli Supreme Courts has given the government until Friday to justify the economic sanctions it is seeking to impose on the Palestinian territory.”

–Some solidarity in campaigns between the Canadian Union of Public Employees and the Public Service Alliance of Canada. It is great to see and I hope that there is more to come. We must stop the selling off of public infrastructure.

–Ed Broadbent comes out swinging against the CAW and their ridiculous Magna deal. The ability to strike is fundamental to bargaining and are a fundamental, constitutionally protected right in Canada. No union should be able to give that right up for its members.

–Dual power in Venezuela… this is an extremely important concept to understand if one is to understand transition theory. Without transition theory there is no way to navigate a change from this system to one that is more equitable and controlled by the people.

–Socialism did not fail in Russia mostly because it was never achieved in Russia.

–Most military court systems are to be avoided… but if we are going to rank them then the Israeli system is definitely not one to choose as best.

–Some say that Alberta is acting like Venezuela in demanding more revenue from the natural resources extracted from their soil. If only this actually were the case… The social programs that are offered in Alberta are minimal and the fact of the matter is that much of the oil is coming from Aboriginal land with those communities not reaping any benefits or having any control over the process.

–The answer is because they are liberals and to reduce poverty goes against the system that they support and propagate.

–A new way forward for the citizens of the South. ALBA and the Bank of the South hold real promises that are replacing the empty promise of prosperity of neo-liberalism.

–The imperialist war against the people in the South continues.

“CBC News found that military exports rose 3.5 times between 2000 and 2006. And according to the most recent report by the U.S. Congressional Research Service, Canada was the sixth biggest supplier of arms to the world in 2006.”

The CBC has done a decent job of investigative journalism on this story and have broken down the numbers along the following categories:

Military exports by province
Military exports by country of destination
Military exports by type

“Political parties considered to be on the far or extreme side of the right wing have been gaining increased political legitimacy in Europe.”

“UN atomic watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei said Sunday he had no evidence that Iran is building nuclear weapons and accused US leaders of adding “fuel to the fire” with recent bellicose rhetoric.”

This is the current Gallup briefing on Iraq and public opinion.

““Fidel is a father for our people. Cuba is an example for our revolution. Venezuela loves Cuba. Our people love the Cuban people and are very grateful to them.” … The integration between Cuba and Venezuela is a model that should be followed on the rest of the continent.”

Here are details of some of the partnerships between the two countries.

“Seven South American countries are expected to inaugurate the new bank … Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela – agreed to create an institution with up to $7 billion in initial capital, paving the way for the bank to begin operating as early as 2008 … An eighth country, Colombia, said last week that it wanted to be included as well … Chile, which has the continent’s best credit rating, has not signed onto the project.”

–Venezuelan constitutional reforms. Hard not to agree with this document… It is a little biased but it sets the stage for discussion quite well. Have a read, be informed.